Realistic YA/ Family

At turns hiliarious and heartbreaking, this narrative is full of surprises and Junior Spirit is a unique and remarkable character. The story contains some profanity and frank discussion of masturbation, which though completely expected, normal and within context, might offend some.

There is a lot going on in this novel. While I initially liked the references to The Outsider, the connections became a little lame and distracting. There were quite a few interesting characters to keep track of, such as Mickey's best friend, Christina and her crush, Ricky. There are references to the tragedies and family problems each deals with, but no real development. There was still a lot to like about the novel, especially some of the dialogue and descriptions.

Pop Princess
I pre-ordered Pop Princess because I adored Gingerbread and The Steps. I was disappointed because Pop Princess didn't have the edginess of Gingerbread or the wackiness of The Steps. It was a fluffy, romantic fantasy missing many opportunities to get deep and interesting.

Wonder Blake knows tragedy. The sixteen-year-old has watched her family unravel since the death of her amazing sister two years earlier. Her sister, Lucky, a rising pop star, was killed by a drunk driver and her parents just haven't bounced back. Having left their respective jobs, the family moves to their beach house. Making the shift from summer person to year-rounder isn't easy on Wonder. She has gained weight and become the target of the alpha-female at school. Just as she thought her life couldn't get any worse, she is "discovered" by Lucky's old manager and groomed to become the next pop princess.

Just as in Friend's previous novel, Perfect, we find an engaging, sympathetic, imperfect but likeable protagonist, with imperfect but likeable parents and a realistic sounding ending. Friend did a wonderful job of portraying the watchfulness of the child of an alcoholic parent as well as the emotions which veer from hatred to protectfulness in the matter of seconds.

This is a gritty read, almost but not quite reaching the intensity of a Chris Crutcher novel. There is some strong language as well as realistically terrible situations. Ian was an engaging character and there were some surprises along the way which enabled me to look past a couple of contrivances and pat coincidences and still enjoy the ride.

Grand and Humble
Grand and Humble tells the parallel stories of Harlen and Manny, both are seventeen-years-old but Harlen is the son of a prominent Senator and socially conscious mother and Manny is the son of a devoted single father. Harlen is a jock and Manny is a geek but both are suffering from disturbing visions. Manny has nightmares each night and Harlen has premonitions. While the plot asks the reader to swallow a lot, it's a terrific ride, peopled with interesting likable characters and a surprise ending.

Thanks to Lora for letting me borrow her copy.

If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince?
Another modern day Cinderella story, but clever, readable and fun. Lucy Norton is a sophomore in high school and upset because her father not only had to go and remarry, but had to move her clear across the country to live on Long Island with her wicked stepmother, who hasn't yet gotten around to buying furniture for Lucy's basement bedroom. She also has twin stepsisters whose sole ambition is to spend afternoons shopping the "Miracle Mile" with their mother.

Lucy's passion for art and basketball are her only comforts as the "in" crowd at school hasn't exactly welcomed her with open arms. However, a chance remark about a basketball game between her beloved Lakers and the NY Knicks is overheard by the reigning alpha male and star basketball player who might just become Lucy's prince.

Born to Rock
Leo Caraway is a Young Republican, honor student, nice guy with decent parents and on his way to Harvard with a full scholarship. As a favor to his best friend, Melinda, who is as goth as Leo is Republican, he tutors her friend Owen in Algebra. During the big exam, he sees Owen freeze and whispers an encouraging word to him. The vice-principal catches him and accuses him of cheating. When Leo attempts to explain, the vice-principal offers to shift the blame onto Owen. Leo realizes that this man is out to get Owen because Owen happens to be gay and his "X factor" kicks in. Leo refuses to back down. He takes the fall for Owen and loses his scholarship.

Leo's "X factor" is Maggot blood- his biological father is none other than King Maggot, leader of Purge, the founder of punk rock and hero of Melinda. What follows is a wild ride spent as a roadie for Purge's comeback tour.

Are We There Yet?
There can be any number of reasons why siblings don't like each other and Elijah and Danny Silver share several. First, they are separated by seven years and secondly, Elijah is as laid back as Danny is not. At twenty-three, Danny is the boy-wonder of his ad firm, but totally enmeshed in work, not realizing that he is becoming lonely. At seventeen, Elijah is facing college applications by avoiding them to spend time with his tight-knit group of friends at boarding school, getting high and enjoying just "being."

Mr. and Mrs. Silver send Danny and Elijah to Italy after Mr. Silver's knee injury prevents them from going. Danny senses a set up, but goes because his boss has suggested that he should take a break. Elijah is reluctant but acquiesces because that is his nature.

Levithan's writing is spare but humorous and oh-so-insightful as he captures the sibling tango and the perils and pitfalls of travel in Italy.

Vegan Virgin Valentine
Control freak and high school senior Mara Valentine tells us her story of straight A's, president of everything, early acceptance to Yale and in an intense race for valedictorian with her ex-boyfriend. Life is pretty good for Mara, she has it all figured out; at least the next five years. Enter Vivianne Vale Valentine, or V, for short, her niece, who is one year younger and everything Mara is not- promiscuous, pot-smoking, foul mouthed and indifferent about grades, school and authority.

This book is a quick, fun read but not for the fainthearted due mostly to the language and some of V's choices. She drives Mara absolutely nuts and needs the stability of a real family instead of her 35-year-old itinerant, single mother who refers to V's father as Sperm Donor. Both characters grow and change in realistic, if predictable ways 

My Brother's Keeper 
Thirteen-year-old Toby Malone is the middle son of a single mom who is trying to cope with the fact that her alcoholic husband has left the family for good. Toby used to be tight with his older brother, Jake, who was the high school baseball team's MVP last season. But Jake has been acting mysteriously lately and Toby has been covering up for him as he did for his dad when he used to come drunk. At the same time, Toby is dealing with his first crush, trying out for the baseball team and his human sexuality class as well.

This lovely, heartbreaking book is told from Toby's point-of-view as he takes on the role of enabler and protector while, at the same time, furious with his brother as well as his mother because she is so wrapped up in her own problems, she doesn't see Jake's.

To complicate matters even further, Mina has a hearing impaired sister whom their mother doesn't treat very well. Suna looks up to Mina, follows her everywhere and Mina feels very protective of her. When a Mexican worker is hired to assist Mina's father after he hurts his back, Mina feels drawn to him, which, of course enrages her already distrustful mother. Interesting, if predictable, not as powerful as her debut novel, A Step from Heaven.

Liam discovers that his parents were in a band which was about to go places when the drummer was killed. He then finds out that he was named for the drummer. He meets the drummer's mother while visiting his grave and finds out that she has kept a shrine to her dead son in her home, which includes his drum set and sticks. When Liam picks up his sticks, he finds that he can play the drums and feels the spirit of the original Liam.

This quick-paced rock story meets mystery meets time travel fantasy is a real page turner with a rather satisfying ending.

how i live now
Anorexic, angry and fifteen, Daisy is sent to England by her distant father and wicked, pregnant step-mother to live on a farm with her dead mother's sister and her brood of children. Daisy has never met them, but instantly bonds with Aunt Penn and her cousins. Aunt Penn does important work for world peace and regretfully has to leave soon after Daisy's arrival. Within several days, England is invaded and all communication is cut off. The children are on their own.

This is an interesting and disturbing novel on several levels. Daisy is an intense, complicated and sometimes offensive protagonist but she literally and figuratively, embarks on several journeys, grows and begins healing. 

So Super Starry
You would think that Octavia Clairbrook-Cleave would be an A-list darling in her exclusive private school, Darlington, in London. Her father is an award winning director and her mother is an award winning sit-com actress on American television. But standing nearly six feet and being brunette makes her the anti-Darling who is usually blond and petite.

Predictable but likable and often funny, this bit of froth is a fun way to fill an afternoon. This is the author's first novel, apparently written on a bet and a sequel is planned.